Featured Researcher—Anna H. Wu, Ph.D.
Dr. Anna H. Wu is a professor of preventive medicine at the USC
/ Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Keck School of Medicine.
Tea, Genes, and Their Interactions on Breast Cancer
Dr. Wu is studying the influence of soy and green tea on breast cancer. She has found that both soy and green tea intake is associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer. Read more >
Ask an Expert
If you’d like to ask Dr. Wu a question about her research, please email your question to annaWu@cabreastcancer.org any time between September 25 and November 10. Your identity will remain confidential unless you request otherwise. New questions and answers will be posted regularly beginning in October, so check back for updates.
- Q: How much tea and soy has to be eaten to see an impact on breast
cancer?
A: Based on our limited data (Wu et al. Int J Cancer 2003), we are talking about daily green tea drinking.
In terms of soy, in a recent review of this topic (Trock 2006, JNCI 98: 459-47), they calculated a 3% reduction in risk per gram of soy protein intake per day (note that one 3.5 ounce (98 g) serving of tofu per week is equivalent to 1.13 g of soy protein/day from tofu).
- Q: Is there a time of life when tea and soy have the greatest effect?
A: We don’t have enough data on tea to address this question.
In terms of soy, our data (Wu et al., 2002) and the review by Trock et al (2006) suggest that early life soy intake seem to have a stronger protective effect. However, our current data suggest there is still some protection associated with adult soy intake (i.e., in individuals who eat soy in adult life but did not eat soy during in childhood/adolescence).
- Q: Do you expect that your findings in Asian Americans will translate
to other racial/ethnic groups?
A: I am not aware of data that would suggest otherwise. It should be noted that most of the recent studies on soy and western populations show no association—this is largely related to the very low soy intake in western populations. I am not aware of any study on green tea and breast cancer in non-Asian populations.
- Q. Would you please point me to some more information?
A. Happily. I can suggest four articles:- “Adolescent and Adult Soy Intake and Risk of Breast Cancer in Asian Americans” Carcinogenesis, 2002; 29(9):1491-1496
- “Green Tea and Risk of Breast Cancer in Asians” International Journal of Cancer, 2003; 106:574-579
- “Meta-analysis of Soy Intake and Breast Cancer Risk” Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 2006; 98(7):459-471
- “Green tea, black tea and breast cancer risk: a meta-analysis
of epidemiological studies” Carcinogenesis 2006; 27(7):1310–1315
For More Information about This Researcher
For other CBCRP-funded research projects by Dr. Wu
For Dr. Wu’s bio (USC website)
Other Featured Researchers
Check out the other featured researchers in our Featured
Researcher Archive.
*Note: We're sorry, but we are not able to give medical advice through this website.
